Recently, within a span of a few days, I twice stumbled upon the three deep-seeded questions that everyone asks of themselves at some point in life: Who am I? Why am I here? What shall I do? I was piqued by the diversity of the two sources: one a scholarly opinion piece in a national newspaper. The other on the comics page. This diverse range of sources is a fitting metaphor, showing how these questions are no respecter of persons. We all ask them.
These questions can be repeated over a lifetime, and they can be processed in seconds in response to any number of situations. The questions can also be debilitating, especially question three, if we have not properly responded to the first two questions of Who am I? and Why am I here? If we don’t know who we are and why we’re here, we have no way of knowing what to do.
This is where youth ministry can be at its best.
You couldn’t have a better ministry mission than helping teens ask and answer those first two questions. But not only do we want to help teens answer these questions, we want them to have a white-knuckle grip on the answers, a rock-solid belief in who they are and why there are here. The Enemy will try to answer both of those questions for them. At times you feel he has the upper hand in that it’s easier to convince scarred teens that they are guilty and accused than to convince them that they are purified and faultless.
And to the question of Why am I here? Whether it’s the knowledge of an “oops” pregnancy or the barrage of teaching that mankind accidently found its way into the universe, teens face an uphill climb in feeling positive about why they are here.
Thankfully, God does not leave us hanging in answer to these questions. He answers loud and clear. And once we help teens lock onto who they are and why they’re here, we can give them opportunities to explore the question What should I do? In truth, they will spend the rest of their lives seeking what to do. But the more solid their foundation on who they are and why they’re here, the more likely they are to do the right things.
But maybe you, as a youth leader, need reminded of God’s answers to these questions, too. Take a moment to meditate on the passages below, passaged grouped around these three questions.
Or, better yet, take a 3-minute personal retreat with this Scripture video here.
WHO AM I?
So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:7 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
WHY AM I HERE?
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. …all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 4: 15-16 (NIV)
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…
2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11 (NIV)
WHAT SHALL I DO?
…walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
…serve one another humbly in love.
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
Colossians 3:23 -24 (NIV)